Sydney to Cairns flights
Flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) to Cairns (CNS) cover 1,973 km. 2,734 flights flew it in the last 12 months of Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) figures; 80% were on time across 3 airlines.
On time means arriving within 15 minutes of schedule (BITRE's definition).
Airlines on this route
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Average delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetstar Airways | 1,268 | 80% | 0.8% | – |
| Virgin Australia | 946 | 84% | 0.3% | – |
| Qantas | 520 | 75% | 0.6% | – |
Month by month
Over the last 12 months, Sydney to Cairns ran best in April 2026 (87.2% on time) and worst in July 2026 (74.8%).
See the figures
| Month | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 77% | 0% | 242 |
| September 2025 | 86% | 0.8% | 244 |
| October 2025 | 79% | 0% | 247 |
| November 2025 | 78% | 0% | 205 |
| December 2025 | 80% | 0.8% | 248 |
| January 2026 | 77% | 1.2% | 253 |
| February 2026 | 84% | 1.2% | 170 |
| March 2026 | 82% | 0.5% | 203 |
| April 2026 | 87% | 1.3% | 235 |
| May 2026 | 80% | 0% | 192 |
| June 2026 | 81% | 0% | 197 |
| July 2026 | 75% | 1% | 298 |
Source: BITRE domestic airline on-time performance, August 2025 to July 2026. Source: BITRE, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. Figures describe the past and do not predict a future flight.
Questions and answers
- How often are flights between Sydney and Cairns on time?
- 80.2% of 2,734 flights were on time (within 15 minutes) over the last 12 months of Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) figures, and 0.6% were cancelled.
- Which airline is most punctual between Sydney and Cairns?
- Virgin Australia, with 84.2% on time. Qantas was the least punctual at 74.6%.
- What is the best month to fly between Sydney and Cairns?
- Over the last 12 months, Sydney to Cairns ran best in April 2026 (87.2% on time) and worst in July 2026 (74.8%).
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